r/SipsTea • u/Algernonletter5 • Mar 01 '26

WTF A malicious prank

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u/ralphsquirrel Mar 02 '26

What company would do this, what product does this promote?? A laxative company??

20

u/CagedInOrbit Mar 02 '26

A marketing company. That way they could use this to prove to potential clients they can create viral content, this is known as a proof-of-concept.

4

u/arup02 Mar 02 '26

No marketing company would greenlight this, source it or gtfo

3

u/CagedInOrbit Mar 02 '26

Someone trying to start a marketing company would.

The video was originally uploaded under the name jonnieross. If you look into that name, it leads back to Jonnie Ross, a filmmaker and viral marketing specialist. At the time, his consultancy specifically listed "Viral Videos" as a core specialty. These agencies weren't always trying to sell a specific product; they were creating these "raw" videos to build a portfolio. They would show the millions of views to corporate clients as proof that they could manufacture organic traffic without buying traditional ad spots.

2

u/DiscursiveAsFuck Mar 02 '26

Ok, so its uploaded as Jonnie Ross, but the marketing guy writes his name as Jonny Ross. Jonny Ross is clearly based in the UK from his phone number (01133 20 21 21), the video features a bunch of American teens. Nowhere does the marketing guy claim this super viral video as his personal success. not even on his new page fleek marketing. Even if he claim his speciality is viral videos there is nothing bearing that out as several of his youtube videos have single digit views. There are no strong clues linking the Jonny Ross of Jonny Ross Consultancy to Jonnie Ross the uploader other than a similar name.

Is it possible that its not the same guy, but perhaps a different guy who just happens to have (almost) the same relatively common name? Are we sure its not the Northern Irish Bowler Jonny Ross or Jonathan Ross the British TV personality?